Legion Class Preview Series: Druid, Ability Tooltips, Blue Tweets

In this blog on Druids in Legion, you'll find information on the fantasy behind each spec, several sample abilities and one sample talent. This is part of a series of class blogs discussing the reasoning for class changes and improvements before beta begins. Up next are Rogues on Thursday, which should include information on the new Outlaw spec.

Also, for those who didn't see, both Aquatic form and Moonkin form are receiving model updates for Legion!

Blizzard

Welcome to our World of Warcraft: Legion class preview series. In this entry, we’re exploring the Druid—to find out what’s in store for a different class, check out the overview. We continue our early look at class and specialization design with the Druid. In these blogs, we’ll be exploring class identity, discussing Legion’s new designs, and presenting core combat abilities for each specialization—laying out the foundation upon which talents and Artifacts will build further. With that in mind, let’s delve into what it means to be a Druid in World of Warcraft.Guardians of nature who seek to preserve balance and protect life, Druids have unmatched versatility on the field of battle. This is in part because druidism is much more than a fighting discipline—it’s a way of life steeped in traditions so ancient that even the origin of their kind is preserved largely in mythology passed on through millennia.Druids harness nature’s raw energy for an incredible breadth of offensive and defensive abilities, as well as to restore life to the wounded. Through communion with nature and the demigod Cenarius, Lord of the Forest, Druids are supernaturally endowed with the gift of shapeshifting, allowing them to take the form of all manner of nature’s creature and access powers as distinct as they are diverse.Known for hybrid utility and shapeshifting, Druids have four diverse and well-established specializations. In Legion, we’re focusing on empowering Balance gameplay, strengthening the cohesion of Guardian abilities and their fantasy themes, and renewing Druids’ overall trait of shapeshifting between forms to fulfill distinct functions.Making use of multiple forms for different situations has been difficult for many years, either due to a lack of access to the “off-spec” talents that make your alternate forms feel strong or because the process itself has felt overwhelming and convoluted. To help solve this issue, we’re taking a new route by replacing Heart of the Wild with a full row of Affinity talents, which essentially allow every Druid to choose an off-spec from the remaining three specializations.Affinities provide two benefits: first, a passive ability that is useful at all times, even to your main role; second, access to multiple key abilities to use in associated shapeshifting forms. To give you a sense for how choosing your Affinity will impact gameplay, regardless of what form you’re in, here’s a look at the passive abilities they grant:

Astral Influence: Increases the range of all spells, abilities, and autoattacks by 5 yds.

Feline Swiftness: Increases movement speed by 15%.

Thick Hide: Reduces all damage taken by 10%.

Ysera’s Gift: Constantly heals the Druid, or allies when the Druid is at full health.

Unlike Heart of the Wild, Affinities are not temporary buffs. This enhanced access to an off-spec, delivered through a cleaner game mechanic, empowers Druids of any specialization to make interesting situational combat decisions. Balance The elements that carve form into the universe are fluid forces of nature. Some beings seek to bend the power of these natural elements to their will. Druids, however, worship the protecting spirits of nature. Long ago, nature’s equilibrium was thrown out of balance, leaving the world vulnerable to catastrophic events, including the first invasion of the Burning Legion. By leveraging the sacred powers of the moon, the sun, and the stars, balance druids access arcane and nature magics—made more potent still through shapeshifting, when the spellcaster takes the form of the moonkin—to aid in the fight against imbalance that threatens the natural order of all things. "Balance druids access arcane and nature magics to aid in the fight against imbalance that threatens the natural order of all things"GameplayBalance Druids have had a variety of cyclical rotations over the years. The core design problem in all of these cycles is that they’ve forced players into watching closely for UI cues and casting spells in largely predetermined orders. The Legion design is focused on providing a flexible combat experience, where you can use abilities as you’d like, and each has a specific purpose. The Eclipse Bar has been completely replaced by an Astral Power resource, which is built and spent, and provides a platform for abilities to create interesting, engaging, and powerful effects. Balance gameplay will center on maintaining your DoTs, generating Astral Power with a mixture of Lunar Strike and Solar Wrath, and spending Astral Power on either Starsurge or Starfall.Here’s a basic look at the core combat abilities for Balance Druids:

45 yd range, Instant

A quick beam of lunar light burns an enemy for minor Arcane damage and then an additional strong Arcane damage over 18 sec.

Usable while in Bear Form.

45 yd range, Instant

A quick beam of solar light burns an enemy for minor Nature damage and then an additional strong Nature damage over 14 sec to the primary target and all enemies within 5 yards.

45 yd range, 2.5 sec cast

Call down a strike of lunar energy, causing strong Arcane damage to the target, and minor Arcane damage to all other enemies within 5 yards.

Generates 15 Astral Power.

45 yd range, 1.5 sec cast

Hurl a ball of solar energy at the target, dealing moderate Nature damage.

Generates 9 Astral Power.

40 Astral Power, 45 yd range, Instant

Launch a surge of stellar energies at the target, dealing massive Astral damage.

Also grants you Lunar and Solar Empowerments, which increase the damage of your next Lunar Strike or Solar Wrath by 30%, respectively. You can accumulate up to 3 of each Empowerment.

60 Astral Power, 45 yd range, Instant

Calls down waves of falling stars that damage enemies at the targeted location. Deals strong Astral damage over 8 sec.

Enemies in your Starfall take 30% additional damage from your Moonfire and Sunfire.

Increases the damage of Starfall and Starsurge, and the effect of the Empowerments that they grant by an additional 30% (with Mastery from typical gear).

Additionally, to give you an idea of how some talents may build upon this, here’s an example of one of their Balance-specific talents:

Instant

Gain a Blessing of the Ancients, activating or swapping between one of the two following beneficial effects:

Blessing of Elune – Increases Astral Power generated by Solar Wrath and Lunar Strike by 50%.

Blessing of An’she – Grants 3 Astral Power every 2 sec.

Feral Feral druids also seek to curb imbalance in nature. They observe the fantastic intricacies of the physical world and the delicate fabric in which all living creatures are given purpose. Whether on land or in the sea, in a lush jungle or an uncultivated desert, death is part of the cycle which sustains life. Nature is an eternal dance between predator and prey. As a shapeshifter, the feral druid endlessly pursues a greater understanding of this truth. They seek a visceral connection to the wild, and in combat take the form of a deadly feline predator. Feral druids become ferocious, agile stalkers—ripping, biting, and bleeding their enemies dry. The forces of chaos are tamed by the druid’s primal fury. "Feral druids become ferocious, agile stalkers—ripping, biting, and bleeding their enemies dry"GameplayFeral Druids have a solid gameplay foundation that complements their fiction. Design changes in Legion are tempered, and we’re paying the most attention to talent options that provide a wider array of combat customization. Making Savage Roar optional in the talent tree in Warlords worked well to open up gameplay opportunities. We’re taking this approach further by flipping it around—Savage Roar is now a talent choice matched against two compelling alternatives that cater to different play styles.Here’s a basic look at the core combat abilities for Feral Druids:

Additionally, to give you an idea of how some talents may build upon this, here’s an example of one of their Feral-specific talents:

Passive

Your Rip, Rake, and Thrash abilities deal the same damage as normal, but in 33% less time.

Guardian Like their feral brothers and sisters, guardian druids attune themselves to nature through the animal kingdom. They commune with the wild to understand how life perseveres through adversity. They know that the creatures who survive are often those built to best protect themselves and their kin. In this, the guardian druid finds a deep and harmonious value in the steadfast—all the while recognizing that sturdiness requires an aggressive stance when danger comes near.Taking the form of a great bear, the guardian druid becomes a massive wall of fur, claw, tooth, and rage, aided by the forces of nature, standing between allies and any opposing threats. "Taking the form of a great bear, the guardian druid becomes a massive wall of fur, claw, tooth, and rage, aided by the forces of nature, standing between allies and any opposing threats"GameplayPowerful themes fuel the Guardian Druid, but the gameplay falls short of delivering on them. In particular, Guardian Druids have had a strong emphasis on avoidance, dodging attacks more than almost any other tank, with abilities accentuating that. However, this doesn’t mesh well with the image of the tough and sturdy bear. We want Guardian Druids to survive through their sheer tenacity, thick hide, massive resilience, and strong regeneration. To this end, we’ve redesigned several parts of the Druid combat ability toolkit to instead focus on those core defensive ideas—health, armor, mitigation, and regeneration—while deemphasizing dodge.Here’s a basic look at the core combat abilities for Guardian Druids:

Also increases your attack power by 20% (with Mastery from typical gear).

Additionally, to give you an idea of how some talents may build upon this, here’s an example of one of their Guardian-specific talents:

Passive

Your Lacerate bleed now also reduces the target's damage done to you, and increases damage you do to the target, by 3% per stack.

Restoration The many gifts provided by nature must sometimes be reciprocated. Restoration druids seek order in the world by tending directly to its many life forms. Friend to flora and fauna alike, restoration druids celebrate birth and growth. Where there is decay, they bring rejuvenation. Where there is abatement, they summon regrowth. Life not only needs protection—it needs nourishment.To foster this harmony, the restoration druid builds a bond with the things that grow, gaining inspiration from the flower’s bloom, the seed’s sprout, the mushroom’s spores, and the tree’s growth. Like nature, the restoration druid perseveres through patience and persistence, the foundation upon which all life is built and sustained. They use this power to mend wounds and provide persistent remedies that keep their allies from falling. "Friend to flora and fauna alike, restoration druids celebrate birth and growth"GameplayRestoration Druid themes are clearly defined, and there’s a lot of cohesive flavor to love in how the spec plays. As a result, we’re making minimal changes. Their Mastery had the most room for improvement, having basically become a passive effect. We’ve redesigned it to emphasize layering healing-over-time effects, favoring more engaging gameplay, while also catering to the Restoration themes.Here’s a basic look at the core combat abilities for Restoration Druids:

Your healing is increased by 10% for each of your Restoration heal over time effects on the target.

2% Mana, 40 yd range, 2.5 sec cast

Heals a friendly target for a moderate amount.

3.7% Mana, 40 yd range, 1.5 sec cast

Heals a friendly target for a moderate amount and another minor amount over 12 sec.

Regrowth has a 60% increased chance for a critical effect.

1.9% Mana, 40 yd range, Instant

Heals the target for a moderate amount over 15 sec.

2% Mana, 40 yd range, Instant

Heals the target for a moderate amount over 10 sec. When Lifebloom expires or is dispelled, the target is instantly healed for a moderate amount.

Lifebloom can be active only on one target at a time.

4.3% Mana, 40 yd range, Instant

Grow a healing blossom at the target location, restoring a moderate amount of health to three injured allies within 10 yards every 2 sec for 30 sec.

Only 1 Efflorescence can be placed at a time.

1.6% Mana, 40 yd range, Instant, 30 sec cooldown

Instantly heals a friendly target for a large amount.

7.5% Mana, 40 yd range, 1.5 sec cast, 10 sec cooldown

Heals up to 6 injured allies within 30 yards of the target for a moderate amount over 7 sec.

Healing amount starts high and declines over the duration.

Passive

When you critically heal a target with the direct healing portion of Switmend, Regrowth, or Healing Touch, you plant a Living Seed on the target.

When the target is next attacked, the Living Seed will bloom and heal for 50% of the initial amount healed.

Passive

Your periodic healing from Lifebloom has a 4% chance to cause you to enter a Clearcasting state, causing your next Regrowth to be free.

Additionally, to give you an idea of how some talents may build upon this, here’s an example of one of their Restoration-specific talents:

Instant, 1 min cooldown

Extend the duration of all of your heal over time effects on friendly targets within 60 yards by 10 sec.

We hope you’ve enjoyed this early preview of our approach to Druid class and specialization design in World of Warcraft: Legion. We’ll wrap up our series tomorrow with a look at Rogues.

Blue Tweets

Clarifications on the class blog have been posted to WarcraftDevs. You can also filter tweets by Class and Role using Wowhead's revamped blue tweet tracker.

Interesting, now its a targeted AoE. I just hope I can keep Astral Storm, I like how it looks and sounds.

Comentario de heartlessnobody

on 2015-11-11T19:12:32-06:00

So bear form can cast moon fire not as funny as laser kitty

Comentario de subby

on 2015-11-11T19:13:13-06:00

The balance play looks very different, will be interesting to see how the gameplay will be. We have had quite a few changes to our rotations over the years and I am starting to feel like we are a class that is just messed about with and nothing solid is ever laid down. I also hope they do something nice with our looks too because that is soooo over due.

Comentario de Jivefunk

Comentario de Dalphakans

WTH..... This is the news for Balance? Looks the same problems.... casting the whole time..... No Survival no defense..... the SPANK CASTER.....

Comentario de Random0223

on 2015-11-11T19:24:13-06:00

Now this is going to be awesome druid love! So pleased ^^

Comentario de Shait

on 2015-11-11T19:24:37-06:00

Changes look good. Hope the ARE good....

Comentario de Dalphakans

on 2015-11-11T19:30:41-06:00

I am so tired to jump and run ´With balance Druid] .... from special attacks.... Tiphoon is mostly useless..... no spiritual companion yet? I play WOW since the classic... I miss the whole "connection with various spirits" the druid learned the ways each different spirit.

Where is the werebear from diablo II?'

Comentario de Dalphakans

on 2015-11-11T19:34:35-06:00

The primary problem of the Druids tanks will be maintained? Allergy to magic damage?

Comentario de beilog

on 2015-11-11T19:38:13-06:00

seems same to me :D

Comentario de airanp

That has to be a misuse of terminology. There is no way blizz would allow thrash to apply the actual lacerate ability on all targets. And if so is it 25% chance on use of lacerate to reset mangle or per bleed tic? If it is an aoe lacerate then that truely is going to be sic.

Comentario de Thror

on 2015-11-11T19:50:58-06:00

The Guardian changes are BEAUTIFUL. And so is the bear form shown in the screenshot. Ironfur sounds so much more fun than Sissy Dodge.

(Although I don't see much point in adding Moonfire, apart from... as an Alamo reference?)

(If Guardians were to be given a nature spell to cast in Bear form, I would much rather see the return of Cataclysm-era Thorns.)

Comentario de Drexxis

on 2015-11-11T19:51:45-06:00

I'm just happy they didn't rock the boat with Restoration.

Comentario de greenky

on 2015-11-11T19:57:41-06:00

There not lol.Mark of Ursol40 Rage, InstantReduces magical damage taken by 30% for 6 sec.

Might also allow overlapping to as long as you can pay the rage for it.

Comentario de greywolf31

on 2015-11-11T20:37:04-06:00

I like the resto mastery change a lot!

Comentario de Menardis

on 2015-11-11T20:43:35-06:00

Healing a bear might not be extremely painful anymore. Yay and more yay!